CARBON NEUTRAL
We offset any carbon emission from this already low energy production process.
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Perla Negra - Francisca Cubillo, Costa Rica
Perla Negra - Francisca Cubillo, Costa Rica
Tastes like: Cherry Cola, Butterscotch, Fig Preserves
Light
Fruit Dried (Natural)
Syrupy and Modern
Regular price
$26.10 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$26.10 USD
Unit price
per
Shipping calculated at checkout.
- Farmer Equity: 20% of retail price = $8.10 /340g - $5.80 /lb
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- Partner Since: 2009
- Ideal as: Espresso and Filter
- Sub Type: Modernist and Espressoist
Perla Negra - Natural Process Single Varietal Microlot
Francisca and Oscar wanted to do a second special micro-micro lot just for us. They were really happy with the results of their hybrid cultivar testing program and one of those, the Hybrid 17 stood out as the sweetest. Francisca knew that we prize sweetness she took only the highest Brix content cherries from from her special reserve lot in their most important farm Las Lajas (where the whole operation gets its name) and then processed it using the famed Perla Negra natural process.
There is a very small amount of Hybrid 17 on Las Lajas and they made it all for Torque. They ended up with only 10 bags of this special micro-lot and we are so excited about this coffee! It's one of our favorite coffees we have had from Francisca and Las Lajas since we started working with them in 2009!
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Beneficio Las Lajas ranks as one of the most progressive, high-quality coffee mills in all of Costa Rica. Francisca Cubillo and Oscar Chacón are the third generation of coffee producers in Costa Rica and the first to process their own coffee. Las Lajas is one of the few farms in Costa Rica growing Certified Organic coffee.
Las Lajas is located in Sabanilla de Alejela Costa Rica near the base of Poas Volcano. The west Central Valley is the location of some of the best coffee in Costa Rica. Francisca and Oscar Chacon are third generation coffee farmers since 1840. When Oascar’s father passed away he inherited 5 hectares at the age of 18. He and his mom kept the legacy alive. In 1997 Francisca and Oscar were married. Francisca attended University in Costa Rica for an agriculture degree in coffee.
In 2009 a massive country-wide earthquake caused widespread power outages and destruction right at the peak of their coffee harvest. Francisca had a crazy idea to try and dry their coffee with the cherry intact since that is how they do it in parts of Africa where there isn't electricity and running water in the dry season. So they spread their coffee cherries out on patios, flat roofs and even hastily built camas africanas (african style raised beds) and dried their coffee slowly in the sun. The results were this crazy black dried cherry that they called Perla Negra. And it was amazingly delicious! And history was made in Costa Rica.
Producers: Francisca Cubillo and Oscar Chacón
Country: Costa Rica
Region: Sabanilla de Alejela
Farm: Beneficio Las Lajas
Varietal: 100% Hybrid 17
Process: Perla Negra Natural
Altitude: 1,250-1,750 MASL
Exporter: SMS Costa Rica
Importer: Atlantic Specialty
SCA Quality Score: 90
Brew Parameters
Espresso Parameters
Financial Transparency
Proportional Pricing
Out of the $400 billion coffee industry, a meager 5% stays where it's grown, leaving farmers with crumbs. At Torque, we're rewriting this injustice. Our radical approach ensures equity for coffee producers, shifting power dynamics.
Here's the game-changer: Coffee producers were pre-paid a guaranteed 20% upfront based on the retail price of their coffee. Simple. Transparent. Fair. We call it Proportional Pricing©. Pay more, they earn more. This reshapes the value equation.
No more opaque systems. No more exploitation. We start with the value you see on the shelf, ensuring 20% flows back to the hands that cultivate your cup. It's called Proportional Pricing©, a seismic shift in coffee's worth chain. It's farmer equity, pure and simple.
We're breaking norms, building a fairer future. Torque Coffees reverse-engineered the chain, advocating for a balanced, equitable industry. It's time to empower those who make your coffee. Together, let's dismantle inequality in the coffee world.
Sustainability Info
Since we are all on the consumption end of things we can never get to carbon neutral without stealing the carbon positive from coffee farmers. So instead of aiming for a negative, we are striving to destroy less and be as carbon beautiful as we can.
The Torque Coffee Bag
100% Plastic Free
100% Compostable & Biodegradable
100% Plant Based
We have partnered with Better Packing Co to be even more carbon Beautiful!
Every order is packed loving in either:
the brilliant ZeroPack mailer Made mostly from limestone quarry waste and a minimal amount of recycled resin as a binding agent.
YES THESE bags are made of freaking limestone!
The Zero Pack is a truly remarkable process!
For larger multi bag orders and for wholesale orders we use the equally brilliant
BAMBOO Box!
These boxes are made mostly from bamboo (and some recycled wood pulp). They are just the thing to ship precious goods in. Curbside recyclable, reusable (at least a couple of times) and compostable.
Unbleached, FSC certified Bamboo (2/3) and recycled wood pulp (1/3).
• Water-based printing ink.
Let customers speak for us
Delicious. Flat out.
I was wrapped up in many things all at one time, including two overlapping live conversation, with my cup in front of me. I stopped. Full stop stopped because the coffee was so good. I just enjoyed the moment.
Andi Mersch
Modernist - Coffee Subscription
Great flavor and smooth
Fantastic coffee! Rivals an expensive Gesha!
Highly recommended!
David Hornick
Once Upon A Time- BERNADINA from Maria Pacas
The best beans
10/10
I've been using these beans for over 6 months. Love all the notes
Colin de Mello
Honey Drop
Balanced sweet
I primarily make espresso and long blacks. This coffee stands out as sweet and balanced. Easy to dial in for a lighter single origin. Overall it’s a very nice coffee that shows it’s been cared for every step along its path to me.
Grant Glidewell
Edwin's Reserve - Edwin Martinez, Guatemala
La Perla Negra Black Honey - Costa Rica
Just WOW! I’ve tried a lot of Torque Coffees, and other coffee brands, and La Perla Negra Black Honey is by far the best! I don’t know how this bean hasn’t won a ton of awards, it’s so freaking good! The aroma and taste are unique, complex, delicious, and addictive!
William Thomas
Torque Coffees
La Perla Negra Black Honey is amazing. It’s what you’ve been looking for. The sweet fruit aromas and flavors stand out the most! It’s unlike any coffee I’ve ever tried before. It’s definitely in its own lane. If you’re looking for something different and amazing, this is it!
William Thomas
Las Lajas, Perla Negra Honey - Costa Rica
Finca Vista Hermosa
A beautifully balanced coffee with layers of chocolatey goodness, gentle in yielding its gifts, a perfect dollop of fruity acidity, I could drink this every day.
Preparation: Pour over with Hario Switch. First 2 pours at 199 F; third pour immerse for 45 secs at 160 F. Enjoy.
Elliot Brown
Edwin's Reserve - Edwin Martinez, Guatemala
Too soon
I hate getting pressured to review after a week! Haven’t even tried both roasts yet. So this is the review I’ll give you. The coffee is expensive! I don’t really mind except that ideally I would want a little more for 20 bucks. As for quality yes it good coffee, I’d say first impressions great coffee buuuuut the Colombian finca vista is definitely not as good as stumptown’s El Jorden which is a good baseline for Colombian single origin (in my awesome opinion of course). itoo soon to give a real review. Need more time and a free bag! lol 5 stars for sure. Also best packaging I’ve seen. Makes you really wonder if a small business like Torque uses such sustainable packaging then why hasn’t Amazon/Target/every corp adopted this as a standard……
that's my review and just like my observation
Man.
Michael Adams
Edwin's Reserve - Edwin Martinez, Guatemala
